Word for Today, Mon, 8 Jan 2007:

#1 · January 8, 2007, 9:44 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on January 8, 2007, 9:44 pm
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,

My friend Larry Davies sends out a weekly Sowing Seeds of Faith. I have been writing my own messages, either composing original content (which I have been doing less and less recently because of a variety of factors that compress my available time to write) or adding my comments to existing works.

My two favorite sources of existing works over the years have been the republished works of Oswald Chambers from his lectures to seminary students. These works have generally been called "My Utmost for His Highest", and they were collected and distributed by Oswald's wife after his untimely death and immortalized in that way.

We have another writer who has a completely different style, but is just as provoking with his unique style of prose. He is my good friend Larry Davies. Since Larry is still alive and so am I, I still hold out the hope of actually meeting Larry. It almost happened a year ago when we had the flooding in New Hampshire. Larry and his team were planning on bringing a truck full of bottled water and supplies to the area, but for some reason, the local chapter of the Salvation Army, who were coordinating humanitarian aide to the area, just were not prepared for this kind of help.

Therefore, Larry and I continue to correspond and frequently find a connection through our writing.

What can we do to spur one another on to love and good deeds? Larry does it all the time. He is a pastor of an active and busy church. Like anyone else, Larry has his limitations. Even so, he has managed to be incredibly innovative and creative to bring out the best in others.

Larry needed help maintaining his prayer needs ministry and I needed something else to do to supplement what was an income insufficient to support a family of five in northern New England. To this day, I work part time for Larry, even though I now have a full time job.

How can we spur one another on to love and good deeds?

Look for the best in others. It is easy to find something wrong with people. I do not have to look very far in myself to find fault in myself, and if I am not careful, I can easily fall into the trap of finding fault in others. Instead, like a quilt, we connect together to form an incredibly complex, yet potentially beautiful, warm, and powerful shelter from the cold around us.

The Word of God is our true Source of hope. The Bible gives us everything we need to know, for it is the part of God's will that has been revealed to men. We will not see any other part of God's revealed will until we see Him face to face. We will not see Him face to face in glory unless we embrace what His Son has done for us.

He did the work that allowed us to construct that quilt in the first place, for He came and gave His life that we may know God's love and know real life, for real life IS in Christ.

Given that wonderful union, let's embrace Christ today, thanking Him for a gift that nobody can ever take away from us, the gift of salvation that He secured with His own body and blood for our sake! What amazing love, what a complete quilt!

Yours in Christ,
Brian

Sowing Seeds of Faith... by Rev. Larry E. Davies

"Church Quilts and People Squares"

Many years ago, Mell and I were surprised by our church with a beautiful hand-made quilt. The contributors, some experienced, others just wanting to help each made squares and signed their name. The finished pieces were then sewn together to form a lively mixture of patterns and colors. The result is a quilt of lasting beauty which will always remind us of a unique church and the love shown to our family. Looking at the quilt and the names, I found a lesson about people, churches and God.

Like my quilt, churches are a lively mixture of people or squares with varying degrees of challenges, joys and sorrows. The list below highlights some good and even flawed examples of people-squares who have helped form a church quilt of beauty and color, pleasing to God.

Four children, with nervous giggles begin their first Bible study. Their enthusiasm is contagious and questions are penetrating. Upon hearing the story of Abraham and the miracle birth of Isaac, which means "laughter," there are visible reactions of snickers and joy.

Fifty-some folks after worship hop into pick-up trucks to drive through mud and debris to a near-by creek bank. Singing, "Shall we gather at the river," they come to witness the baptism of three men giving their lives to God in the cold frigid waters located near their home.

The church board debates whether to buy a new carpet or stained-glass windows with their $3000 surplus. One member asks for $300 to purchase Christmas gifts for several needy children. After a long silence, no surplus money is offered but they do agree to take up an offering. The children receive bicycles and the church gets a new carpet.

A man in the local community has a heart attack and nearly dies. While in the hospital, he makes a commitment to serve God by attending our church. Within months he is motivating and encouraging others through his enthusiastic witness. Everyone is blessed.

One thirty-something member starts a new Sunday school class for young adults. Another member reaches out to single adults. Soon, with encouragement, help and prayer the two new groups combine and become one of the largest and most active classes in the church.

A nurse asks our church to build a handicap ramp for an elderly patient in the county. The men's group sends a team of volunteers who spend their Saturday building a ramp and then decide to make a few minor repairs to the house while there.

A new member attending her first leadership meeting suggests the church occasionally sing more upbeat music, younger people can relate too. Another person stands and makes it clear she is not interested in learning new songs. The subject is dropped. Nothing more is said. The new member no longer attends.

A young man asks if he can play softball with the church team. To play he must attend our church at least two Sundays a month. Soon, he's coming every week. Before the season is over, God touches and transforms his life. The team however, still finishes in last place.

On two warm spring evenings, twenty-four church members of all ages gather to celebrate completing a demanding nine-month Bible study. During the worship service the class members talk of receiving life-changing love and support from God and the group.

Just as squares are stitched together to form a colorful quilt, the church is made up of various individuals looking for an ongoing relationship with God. There are a few mistakes made and sins committed but there are also wonderful acts of love and courage. The result is a church-quilt of lasting beauty, which will always remind me of a special church and God's gracious love.

When it comes to God's grace and the church, I love this passage from Hebrews: "Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other…" (10:23-25)

Oops! I almost forgot. There is something missing. One square in the quilt is blank and needs to be filled in. There is still room and I hope it will include you. Because without you and the unique contribution and gifts God gave you, our quilt is incomplete. God's church-quilt has plenty of space available for people-squares just like you and me. Come join us and bring your needle and thread.

Comments:

How have you been a square in the quilt of your church? Send me your story and I may share them in next week's message. Click here and send them to my email address: Larry Davies
--   Brian Masinick  masinick at yahoo dot com  
  --  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: 1corinthians7-unsubscribe@welovegod.org  

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

My friend Larry Davies sends out a weekly Sowing Seeds of Faith. I have been writing my own messages, either composing original content (which I have been doing less and less recently because of a variety of factors that compress my available time to write) or adding my comments to existing works.

My two favorite sources of existing works over the years have been the republished works of Oswald Chambers from his lectures to seminary students. These works have generally been called "My Utmost for His Highest", and they were collected and distributed by Oswald's wife after his untimely death and immortalized in that way.

We have another writer who has a completely different style, but is just as provoking with his unique style of prose. He is my good friend Larry Davies. Since Larry is still alive and so am I, I still hold out the hope of actually meeting Larry. It almost happened a year ago when we had the flooding in New Hampshire. Larry and his team were planning on bringing a truck full of bottled water and supplies to the area, but for some reason, the local chapter of the Salvation Army, who were coordinating humanitarian aide to the area, just were not prepared for this kind of help.

Therefore, Larry and I continue to correspond and frequently find a connection through our writing.

What can we do to spur one another on to love and good deeds? Larry does it all the time. He is a pastor of an active and busy church. Like anyone else, Larry has his limitations. Even so, he has managed to be incredibly innovative and creative to bring out the best in others.

Larry needed help maintaining his prayer needs ministry and I needed something else to do to supplement what was an income insufficient to support a family of five in northern New England. To this day, I work part time for Larry, even though I now have a full time job.

How can we spur one another on to love and good deeds?

Look for the best in others. It is easy to find something wrong with people. I do not have to look very far in myself to find fault in myself, and if I am not careful, I can easily fall into the trap of finding fault in others. Instead, like a quilt, we connect together to form an incredibly complex, yet potentially beautiful, warm, and powerful shelter from the cold around us.

The Word of God is our true Source of hope. The Bible gives us everything we need to know, for it is the part of God's will that has been revealed to men. We will not see any other part of God's revealed will until we see Him face to face. We will not see Him face to face in glory unless we embrace what His Son has done for us.

He did the work that allowed us to construct that quilt in the first place, for He came and gave His life that we may know God's love and know real life, for real life IS in Christ.

Given that wonderful union, let's embrace Christ today, thanking Him for a gift that nobody can ever take away from us, the gift of salvation that He secured with His own body and blood for our sake! What amazing love, what a complete quilt!

Yours in Christ,
Brian

Sowing Seeds of Faith... by Rev. Larry E. Davies

"Church Quilts and People Squares"

Many years ago, Mell and I were surprised by our church with a beautiful hand-made quilt. The contributors, some experienced, others just wanting to help each made squares and signed their name. The finished pieces were then sewn together to form a lively mixture of patterns and colors. The result is a quilt of lasting beauty which will always remind us of a unique church and the love shown to our family. Looking at the quilt and the names, I found a lesson about people, churches and God.

Like my quilt, churches are a lively mixture of people or squares with varying degrees of challenges, joys and sorrows. The list below highlights some good and even flawed examples of people-squares who have helped form a church quilt of beauty and color, pleasing to God.

Four children, with nervous giggles begin their first Bible study. Their enthusiasm is contagious and questions are penetrating. Upon hearing the story of Abraham and the miracle birth of Isaac, which means "laughter," there are visible reactions of snickers and joy.
Fifty-some folks after worship hop into pick-up trucks to drive through mud and debris to a near-by creek bank. Singing, "Shall we gather at the river," they come to witness the baptism of three men giving their lives to God in the cold frigid waters located near their home.
The church board debates whether to buy a new carpet or stained-glass windows with their $3000 surplus. One member asks for $300 to purchase Christmas gifts for several needy children. After a long silence, no surplus money is offered but they do agree to take up an offering. The children receive bicycles and the church gets a new carpet.
A man in the local community has a heart attack and nearly dies. While in the hospital, he makes a commitment to serve God by attending our church. Within months he is motivating and encouraging others through his enthusiastic witness. Everyone is blessed.
One thirty-something member starts a new Sunday school class for young adults. Another member reaches out to single adults. Soon, with encouragement, help and prayer the two new groups combine and become one of the largest and most active classes in the church.
A nurse asks our church to build a handicap ramp for an elderly patient in the county. The men's group sends a team of volunteers who spend their Saturday building a ramp and then decide to make a few minor repairs to the house while there.
A new member attending her first leadership meeting suggests the church occasionally sing more upbeat music, younger people can relate too. Another person stands and makes it clear she is not interested in learning new songs. The subject is dropped. Nothing more is said. The new member no longer attends.
A young man asks if he can play softball with the church team. To play he must attend our church at least two Sundays a month. Soon, he's coming every week. Before the season is over, God touches and transforms his life. The team however, still finishes in last place.
On two warm spring evenings, twenty-four church members of all ages gather to celebrate completing a demanding nine-month Bible study. During the worship service the class members talk of receiving life-changing love and support from God and the group.

Just as squares are stitched together to form a colorful quilt, the church is made up of various individuals looking for an ongoing relationship with God. There are a few mistakes made and sins committed but there are also wonderful acts of love and courage. The result is a church-quilt of lasting beauty, which will always remind me of a special church and God's gracious love.

When it comes to God's grace and the church, I love this passage from Hebrews: "Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other…" (10:23-25)

Oops! I almost forgot. There is something missing. One square in the quilt is blank and needs to be filled in. There is still room and I hope it will include you. Because without you and the unique contribution and gifts God gave you, our quilt is incomplete. God's church-quilt has plenty of space available for people-squares just like you and me. Come join us and bring your needle and thread.

Comments:

How have you been a square in the quilt of your church? Send me your story and I may share them in next week's message. Click here and send them to my email address: Larry Davies

--   Brian Masinick  masinick at yahoo dot com

  --  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: 1corinthians7-unsubscribe@welovegod.org